Connecter for x-ray tubes



Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original applicationOct 568,905. Divided and 23, 1935, Serial No. 37

5 Claims.

My invention relates to X-ray machines, and has to' do with means forestablishing electrical connections at the cathode end of the X-raytube.

The primary object of my invention is to provide improved means disposedat the cathode end of the X-ray tube for establishing electrical connections thereto, this means having a lament control rheostat. Furtherobjects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detaildescription.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary central vertical sectional view through theconnecter embodying my invention, applied to the cathode endof an X-raytube, taken lengthwise of the tube, the latter being shown partly inelevation and partly broken away and in section, certain parts beingshown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially in the plane of line2-2 of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in elevation; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line3-3 o'f Figure 1, the cap at the outer side of the connecter beingomitted.

This application is a division of my copending application, for X-raymachine, Serial No. 568,- 905, filed October 15, 1931.

The X-ray tube l is mounted'to turn on its axis, and has its endportions, one of which is shown in Figure l, disposed within tubes 2 ofsuitable insulating material, in accordance with the disclosure o'f myabove identified copending application.

The cathode end of the X-ray tube I is formed with a depression 3 and isprovided with a metallic cap 4 which follows the form of the end of thetube, as illustrated in Figure 1. In the depression in the cap, a metalannulus 5 is provided, this annulus being clamped in place by means ofan insulated central post 6 which has a flange 'I and a screw threadedstem 8 at the other end for the reception of a nut 9. The post 6 isinsulated from the annulus 5 and the cap 4 by means of the insulatingsleeve l and the insulating disc II. A washer l2 is interposed betweenthe disc Il and the nut 9. The sleeve I0 has a flange I3 which engagesthe face of the annulus and it will be seen ho'w the ange 'l and theange I3 cooperate to assemble the arrangement which has just beendescribed in proper relation when the nut 9 is drawn up. The cap 4 isconnected with one end of the X-ray tube lament by means of theconductor I4 and the post 6 is connected with the other end of thefilament by means of the ober 15, 1931, Serial No.

this application August conductor I5 which is clamped against the nut 9by means of the nut i6. It will be remembered that this X-ray tube isrotatable on its own axis and the central position of the post isimportant in this connection as will appear presently.

A block of insulating material l'l is mounted J within the insulatingtube 2 just beyond the cathode end of the X-ray tube. The upper half ofthis block is of cylindrical form to fit the interior of the tube 2 andit is held in the tube by means of the screws I8, I8. An arch I9 ofinsulating material is secured to the lower side of the block` il bymeans of screws 20, 20. A resistance wire 2| is wound on this arch, oneend thereof taking under the head of the screw 22 which also receivesand clamps the end of the conductor 23 which leads from the copper tube24 through an opening 25 in the block l1. The other end of theresistance wire 2| is clamped by the dead screw 26.

Centrally disposed in the insulating block Il' is the metal tube 2lwhich is iirmly lodged in the block. This tube has the internal shoulder28 against which a plug 29 rests. This tube also contains the plunger 30which has the stem 3| extending outwardly of the tube 2"! toward theX-ray tube. This stem 3l carries the spherical head 32 which rests in adepression 33 in the post 5. A helical spring 34 lies between the plug24 and the plunger 3! so as to urge the head 32 against the post 6 forthe purpose of constant electrical contact. A stem 35 is xed in the plug29, passes through the helical spring 34 and into a bore in the plunger30, this stem contributing to the maintenance of the proper alignment ofthe stem 3| and the head 32. A sleeve 36 surrounds and is rotatable onthe tube 21. A wiper 3l is carried on the sleeve 36, and a nut 31a, onthe end of the tube 2l, holds the sleeve and wiper in any adjustedposition, a washer S8 intervening.

This wiper engages the coiled resistance Wire, as f.

shown in Figure 3, and may be moved to any position over the coil ofwire so as to include more or less of the resistance wire in thecircuit. The tube 21 also carries the cap 39 which is secured to the endthereof by means of the screw 40. This cap is a protection againstdischarge between the adjacent X-ray tube terminal and the metallichousing within which the Xray tube may be disposed as in my copendingapplication,

above. It is provided with a semi-cylindrical appendage 4I which forms ashield about the resistance coil.

The insulating block II also has rmly lodged therein the metallic tube42 the interior arrangement of which is substantially the same as thatLil of the tube 21. The wiper 43 engages an annular groove 44 in theface of the annulus 5, this groove M being concentric with lthe axis ofthe tube. The spring within the tube i2 maintains the spherical head ofthe wiper 43 always in appropriate contact in the groove de. The end ofthe conductor 45 is connected with the end of the tube 42 by means of ascrew 65, this conductor i5 passing through the opening 25 and thencethrough tube 2 into and through the copper tube 2G, the latter beingdisposed within a suitabie insulating sleeve or tubing 4l. Y

The copper tube 2Q and the conductor i5V are appropriately connected toa transformer (not shown) inV a suitable manner such as that disclosedin my above identified co-pending application, as will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art.

By the arrangement described, the conductors 2, and 45 are in constantconnection with the lament of the X-ray tube and the rheostat winding 2|and wiperr31 are included in this Y circuit.

I claim:-

l. A connecter for use in an X-ray machine wherein an X-ray tube ismounted for' turning about its axis and is provided at its cathode endwith a pair of la'ment terminals, said connecter comprising aninsulating member, a pair of tubes mounted in said insulating member,spring pressed contact members mounted in and respectively electricallyconnected to said tubes, a contact member carried by said insulatingmember, a Wiper carried by one of said tubes and movable over said lastmentioned contact member, the latter and said wiper and the tubeassociated therewithv being connected in series, means for connectingthe contact member carried by said insulating member to one side of asource of electricalv energy, and means for connecting the other of saidsleeves to the other side of said source of electrical energy.

2. A connecter for use iny anV X-ray machine wherein an X-ray tube ismounted for turning about its axis and'is provided atV its cathode endwith a pair of lament terminals, said connecter comprising an insulatingmember, a pair of spring pressed contact members carried by saidinsulating member, a third contact member mounted on said insulatingmember, a wiper connected to one of Said pair of contact members andmovable over said third contact member, means for connecting said thirdcontact member to one side of a source of electrical energy, and meansfor connecting the other of said pair of contact members to the otherside of said source of electrical energy.

3. A connecter for use in an X-ray machine wherein an X-ray tube ismounted for turning about its axis and is provided at its cathode endwith a pair of iilament terminals, said connecter comprising aninsulating member of approximately disc form, a pair of spring pressedcontact members carried by said insulating member at one face thereof, athird contact member mounted onsaid insulating member, a wiper at theopposite face of said insulating member, said wiper being connected toone of said pair of contact members and' movable over said third contactmember, means for connecting said third contact member to one side oi' asource of electrical energy, and means for connecting the other of saidpair of contact members to the other side of said source of electricalenergy.

4': A connecter foruse in an X-ray machine wherein an X-ray tube ismounted for turning about its axis and is provided at its cathode endwith a pair' of lament terminals, said connecter comprising aninsulating member, a pair of spring pressed' contact members carried bysaidy insulating member, Ya resistance member mounted on said insulatingmember, a wiper connected to one of said pair of contact members andmovable over said resistance member, means for connecting saidresistance member to one side of asource of electrical energy, an'd-Ymeans for connecting the other of said pair of contact members totheother side of said sourceA ol.- electricalv energy;

5. A connecter for use in an X-ray machine wherein an X-ray tube ismounted for turning about its axisand is provided atV its cathode' endwith a pair of filament terminals, said connecter comprising an"insulating member of approximately` disc form, a` pair of spring pressedcontact members carried by said insulating memberat one face thereof,V aresistance coil mounted onv said insulatingrmember, a wiper at theopposite face of said insulating member, said wiper being connectedtoone ofV said pair of contact members and movable over said coil, meansfor connecting said resistance coil to one side of a source ofelectrical energy, and' means for connecting" the other of said pair ofcontact members to the other side of said sourcev of electrical energy.

OSCAR PIPR.

